Top drive quill with removable flange

Abstract

A top drive system with a removable flange is provided. In one embodiment, a top drive includes a quill, a motor coupled to drive rotation of the quill, and a swivel including a housing and a bearing disposed within the housing. The top drive also includes a removable flange attached to the quill within the housing of the swivel. The bearing and the removable flange are positioned within the housing such that the bearing bears weight of the quill via the removable flange. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

1 . A system comprising:
 a top drive including:
 a quill; 
 a motor coupled to drive rotation of the quill; 
 a swivel including a housing and a bearing disposed within the housing; and 
 a removable flange attached to the quill within the housing of the swivel, wherein the bearing and the removable flange are positioned within the housing such that the bearing bears weight of the quill via the removable flange. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flange and the quill are coupled together via mating grooved surfaces of the removable flange and the quill. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the removable flange is a threaded flange and the mating grooved surfaces of the removable flange and the quill are mating threaded surfaces of the threaded flange and the quill. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising a retaining plate having a threaded interior surface configured to mate with the threaded surface of the quill. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining plate is threaded onto the quill above the threaded flange. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining plate is fastened to the threaded flange. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flange includes a split ring. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the split ring has multiple split ring segments that engage the quill. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a collar coupled to the split ring so as to maintain engagement of the split ring with the quill. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a drilling rig including the top drive. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable flange and the bearing are configured to allow rotation of the quill and a drill string coupled to the quill while the bearing bears weight of the quill and the drill string via the removable flange. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising the drill string coupled to the quill. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a top drive with a field-replaceable main bearing, the top drive including a quill received through the main bearing and configured to drive rotation of a connected tubular, wherein the quill includes a flange positioned above the main bearing to enable the main bearing to axially support the quill and the connected tubular through the flange, and wherein the flange is a removable flange that can be separated from the quill to permit in situ removal of the main bearing from the top drive without disconnecting the top drive from a mast or derrick to which the top drive is connected.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the removable flange and the main bearing are positioned within a swivel of the top drive. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the removable flange includes a threaded flange or a split ring. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the top drive is connected to the mast or derrick. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 installing a main bearing within a top drive;   attaching a removable flange to a quill of the top drive; and   positioning the removable flange with respect to the main bearing such that the quill applies an axial load to the main bearing via the removable flange.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein attaching the removable flange to the quill includes attaching a split ring to the quill or threading the removable flange onto the quill. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the top drive is connected to a mast or derrick, and installing the main bearing within the top drive and attaching the removable flange to the quill are performed without disconnecting the top drive from the mast or derrick. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein installing the main bearing within the top drive includes installing the main bearing within a gearbox or a swivel of the top drive. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising lowering the top drive onto the quill such that the quill enters the top drive through a lower end of the top drive.